Ahmed Musa has explained his reasons for turning down to a season-long loan move to Hull City, despite an enduring respect for “father figure” Leonid Slutsky.

Musa topped City’s wish list in the closing days of the summer window and it is understood a provisional deal was struck with Leicester City that would have seen the forward reunited with Slutsky at the KCOM Stadium.

The final decision belonged to Musa on deadline day but he would disappoint his former CSKA Moscow boss by opting to remain in the Premier League with Leicester.

The 25-year-old has failed to make a single appearance for the Foxes since then but he maintains a step down to the Championship made the move to City unattractive.

“Slutsky for me is a father,” Musa is quoted as saying on Russian website sport-express.ru.

Ahmed Musa of Leicester City

“We are always in touch, we communicate warmly. This coach has always helped me to feel confident, to believe in my strength.

“And he really calls me to Hull City. I just cannot physically tell him ‘no’. Perhaps in the near future again I will play for his team.

“The problem is Hull is in the Championship. It is for this reason that it’s hard for me to decide.”

Fresh speculation has linked Musa with both City and Aston Villa during the January transfer window but much will depend on his position at Leicester. Although Craig Shakespeare left the winger out in the cold during his time in charge at the King Power Stadium, Musa now has the chance to impress new boss Claude Puel in the run-up to Christmas.

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Musa has struggled badly since first arriving in English football 15 months ago. A then club record fee of £17m was paid to CSKA Moscow, where Musa had spent four years working under Slutsky in the Russia capital.

The only competitive action seen by Musa since Leicester’s EFL Cup win at Sheffield United on August 22 has been with Nigeria and international duty has taken him back to Russia this week.

Alongside City right-back Ola Aina, signed on loan from Chelsea, Musa has been preparing to face Argentina in Krasnodar tomorrow.